My adventure today
 

I wanted to do a 10-mile bike ride. I had so much to do, so I decided to kill several birds with one stone and bike to the new Walmart 6ish miles away to see what it was like/grab a few things we need.

Despite the fact that we like in an awesome college town with every amenity, we're right next to the countryside, and after one mile I was biking between corn field, then I switched onto the dirt roads -which was a little hairy in places, especially because there was a strong headwind, but oh so beautiful. Through meadows and corn fields and a wildlife preserve, past little ponds and huge red barns, over the level crossing and then after 5 miles Walmart popped up like a barnacle!

Just after I locked up my bike and got a cart, i got the dreaded phonecall just after school got out to say they'd missed the bus ....only they hadn't, they were just checking they were supposed to me on it... *phew* With a 30 minute ride home and then a 20 minute car ride to school, they'd've been waiting a long time.....

Found most of the stuff I need in a sparkly new Walmart not infested with the dregs of life like the one closer to me, hardly any line, then back home again, this time with a tail wind on the main section of dirt road (side wind most of the way, though). It is rather windy, but a gorgeous sunny 26Celcius (maybe 77F?)

12.5 miles, one hour's actual cycling and I'm still alive!

Your second paragraph sounds a little like:
"Over the river and through the woods..."

But nevermind, sounds like you had a nice adventure and pleasant ride... Good on you for doing it.

What?

If you really loved us you'd have taken pictures. :mecry:

Oh I thought about it, I thought about strapping the camera too the handlebar and taking video, but it was just too bumpy and I didn't really have time to be stopping. But next time I will.

oh, you forgot to get TP.... mind just popping back over?

no problem :D

Well today I rode to the park to walk with a friend (same as Friday 3-4 miles each way), but then after a 75 minute walk, I carried on and went all the way to my kids' school on the other side of town to run a couple of errands, and then home again. A good deal of the 13.7 miles was along the river and through the park, so that was nice, but boy those hills at the very end.... well they're a little easier after 5 miles than after 11.... but I still did them with a minimum speed of 5mph.

And I'm still alive, Although i haven't tried standing up yet.

Thank goodness I have been biking small distances all summer or I'd be really sore, but surprisingly, so far.... nothing! yay!

Hows your butt? I tried biking a few summers back but gave up because of the seat. Actually, I need an old ladies bike where the seat is wider than mine and the handle bars are up to my shoulders. (Wait - that sounds more like a sting ray)

My butt disappeared with all that running I've been doing! I have a nice seat, though. Not an old lady seat but padded and with some suspension.

...and the bike seat's not bad, either, boom ka-ching!

Do you have a decent selection of gears?

Advice.

Yes, feels like it to me, it's a "24-speed" (although there's quite a bit of duplication)although it needs a tune up -I can't get it to change onto the lowest cog at the front, but (2:1) is pretty low -I rarely even use that and the top gear is high enough that I can get as fast as I want to with ease on the flat.

You just need to get a little screwdriver and adjust the little screw.